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Nike Cal Women’s Crew Camp

US Sports Camps is pleased to present the Nike Cal Women's Crew Camp in Berkeley, California for the summer of 2015. Camp will be directed by Cal Varsity Women's Crew Head Coach, Al Alcosta and Associate Head Coach, Sarah Puddicombe. The three individual sessions are designed for rowers of all ability levels and will cover technique, conditioning, strength training, video analysis, racing tactics, and the college recruitment process.

The Cal coaches have led the California Golden Bears to 6 consecutive Pac-12 Team titles and 6 consecutive top 3 team finishes in the country at NCAA's a 2013 I Eight National Championship.

Al Alcosta

Al Acosta, a 1993 University of California, Berkeley graduate who became a five-time National Coach of the Year leading the Stanford women’s lightweight team, is in his first season as head women’s crew coach for the Golden Bears.

Acosta, who grew up in Berkeley, attended Berkeley High School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cal with a degree in fine arts in 1993, started the Stanford lightweight program in 2001 and guided the Cardinal for 13 consecutive years. He led the squad to four straight IRA national titles from 2010-13 before the school posted a runner-up finish this past spring. Acosta was honored as the National Lightweight Coach of the Year for the first time in 2008 when Stanford earned a bronze medal at the national regatta, as well as for each of the team’s national championships.

In 2013, Rowing Magazine named Stanford as the “Crew of the Year” as the top collegiate rowing program in the country. In addition to on-the-water success, Acosta’s student-athletes have achieved a 100 percent graduation rate during his tenure.

Prior to accepting his role at Stanford, Acosta worked with the country’s top junior programs, the Oakland Strokes rowing program, for eight years. He served as head girls’ coach from 1994-96 and as head boys’ coach from 1997-2001. His boys’ varsity eight captured California state titles in 1998 and ’99 and finished among the nation’s top three in 1997, ’98 and ’99. In addition, Acosta was the head men’s master’s coach for the Lake Merritt Rowing Club in Oakland from 1997-2001.

On the national level, Acosta served as chair of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Lightweight Committee from 2007-09. He has also been a head coach and associate head coach at national team development camps for both high school boys and college women.

Acosta and his wife, Linda, have two children and reside in San Francisco.

Al Alcosta

Al Acosta, a 1993 University of California, Berkeley graduate who became a five-time National Coach of the Year leading the Stanford women’s lightweight team, is in his first season as head women’s crew coach for the Golden Bears.

Acosta, who grew up in Berkeley, attended Berkeley High School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Cal with a degree in fine arts in 1993, started the Stanford lightweight program in 2001 and guided the Cardinal for 13 consecutive years. He led the squad to four straight IRA national titles from 2010-13 before the school posted a runner-up finish this past spring. Acosta was honored as the National Lightweight Coach of the Year for the first time in 2008 when Stanford earned a bronze medal at the national regatta, as well as for each of the team’s national championships.

In 2013, Rowing Magazine named Stanford as the “Crew of the Year” as the top collegiate rowing program in the country. In addition to on-the-water success, Acosta’s student-athletes have achieved a 100 percent graduation rate during his tenure.

Prior to accepting his role at Stanford, Acosta worked with the country’s top junior programs, the Oakland Strokes rowing program, for eight years. He served as head girls’ coach from 1994-96 and as head boys’ coach from 1997-2001. His boys’ varsity eight captured California state titles in 1998 and ’99 and finished among the nation’s top three in 1997, ’98 and ’99. In addition, Acosta was the head men’s master’s coach for the Lake Merritt Rowing Club in Oakland from 1997-2001.

On the national level, Acosta served as chair of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Lightweight Committee from 2007-09. He has also been a head coach and associate head coach at national team development camps for both high school boys and college women.

Acosta and his wife, Linda, have two children and reside in San Francisco.

Coach

Sarah Puddicombe

A three-time All-American and Division II NCAA champion, Sarah Puddicombe joined the California staff as an assistant coach in 2008. She was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to...

A three-time All-American and Division II NCAA champion, Sarah Puddicombe joined the California staff as an assistant coach in 2008. She was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to last season. She begins her fifth spring with the Golden Bears in 2013.

Prior to arriving in Berkeley, Puddicombe spent one season as an assistant coach at UC Davis, her alma mater. A coxswain, Puddicombe won the Division II championship with the Aggies in 2002 under her maiden name of Sarah Whipple.

In 2010, Puddicombe was named the West Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Bears achieve an undefeated regular season and a conference championship.

Her duties at Cal include working with head coach Dave O'Neill and the varsity squad as well as coordinating Cal's recruiting efforts.

Coach

Vanessa Tavalero

Vanessa Tavalero begins her second season with the California rowing program and her first as a full-time assistant coach with the Golden Bears. She served as a volunteer assistant coach...

Vanessa Tavalero begins her second season with the California rowing program and her first as a full-time assistant coach with the Golden Bears. She served as a volunteer assistant coach last season before being elevated to her current role.

Tavalero is a graduate and former rower at Washington, where she also was an assistant coach from 2010-11. She rowed on the Husky varsity eight boat beginning in her sophomore campaign.

Rowing as a senior in 2000, Tavalero led the Huskies to a second-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, also claiming second in the varsity eight grand final. That boat also won the 2000 Pac-10 Championship and was victorious at the Henley Regatta. The conference championship was the third of three straight Pac-10 titles for Tavalero and the Huskies in the varsity eight.

During her freshman season, Tavalero also won the Pac-10 championship in the freshman eight.

The Technique Camp will focus on technique and general conditioning. These sessions are a great opportunity to try out a brand new sport, or develop more knowledge of the rowing stroke so that you can become a better boat mover and more competitive. Rowers will be assigned to boats and training groups based on age and ability.

Racing Camp

The Racing Camp will have a racing focus. This session will be strenuous, and will involve erg testing, seat racing, race strategy and more. This session is designed to focus on competitive skills and supplement basic technical knowledge.

Transportation

Due to University and NCAA Policies, we are not allowed to offer any transportation to and from camps. The airport closest to the Berkeley campus is Oakland International Airport; San Francisco International Airport is also within a reasonable distance. There are several options that we suggest. There are a few shuttle services that offer transportation to and from Oakland & San Francisco International Airports. Reservations must be made at least a few days in advance, you can make reservations over the phone or online (see below).

Facilities

The T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center, the Bears home since 1924 and steeped in over 75 years of tradition, is a virtual Olympic museum. In fact, the Boathouse is believed to be home to more Olympic gold medalists than any other facility in the world. No fewer than 27 Olympic gold and nine World Championship gold medals have been won by Cal oarsmen who trained at the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center.

Located at 2999 Glascock Street in Oakland, the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center lies between the Park Street and Fruitvale Avenue bridges.

Sample Daily Schedule

7:00 amBreakfast

8:00 amDepart for first workout

11:30 amReturn from workout

11:30 am - 1:30 pmLunch

2:00 pmDepart for second workout / Lecture / Row

5:30 pmReturn from workout

5:30 pm - 7:00 pmDinner

7:00 pmAfter dinner activities with counselors

9:00 pmQuiet time

10:00 pmLights out

Camper Reviews

Overnight Camper

5/5.

Camp was awesome

Camp was great. I learend so much from Coach Sarah and the staff and it was so cool getting out on the water in the Cal Varsity boats. The video was also really cool, and I learned so much from watching myself on tape. The coaches did a great job of pointing out where I can improve. I can't wait till next year!

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